In the ‘exclusive’ story, LIB stated that John Abayomi, the alleged owner of Instablog9ja is also the online editor of Punch Newspaper. This generated a lot of reaction from social media users and celebrities including Davido, Yungsix, Special Spesh and Bovi who did not hide their disgust for Abayomi.

In a recent development, however, LIB has apologised to the Punch editor for inconveniences caused and has also retracted the story saying the real owner is John Abayomi Aruleba. The blog has also apologised for the mix up saying it is as a result of the similarity in the names.

This follows the inquisition by the management of Punch Newspapers, employer of the named Abayomi, who were going to sack him if indeed he was the owner of IB9J. Abayomi himself protested his innocence and has since written Linda Ikeji through his lawyer, Femi Falana. The letter which in part reads “Your publication has put him in the harm’s way, thereby endangering his life and the lives of his family members. It has also attracted a lot of negative reactions from members of the public including celebrities who have been eager to know the face behind the blunt and sarcastic blog because of the method of its reportage.” It also demanded a retraction and apology within 48 hours after which they will commence a lawsuit against her.

In her own retraction which fell within the 48-hour notice she was served, Linda Ikeji said thus: “This mistake was as a result of the exact similarities in the names of John Abayomi who is an Online Editor with Punch and another John Abayomi Aruleba who is the actual owner of Instablog9ja. The picture identification mistake from our staff was sadly as a result of the uncanny yet not uncommon similarities in the names of these two individuals. LIB is happy to set the record straight, take full responsibility for the mix-up as we tender our unreserved apology to John Abayomi of Punch Newspapers for any inconvenience this mistake has caused.”

The blog, however, insists that the owner of Instablog is named John Abayomi Aruleba and named another individual, Tosin Dotun Adeyemi as his partner.

Most of the criticism LIB has received in time past was because of unverified.

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